An attribute common to all of Rembrandt’s paintings of Paul is old age.Asdepictedinthispainting,theApostleisanelderlyman,devoid ofvirilestrengthandgrace. Heisalonelyfigure sittingindarkness, weigheddownbylayersofwarmclothing. Rembrandtseemstohave left nothing in writing to explain why the Apostle was a favorite subjectofhis,orwhyhechosetopresentPaulasolderandvulnerable.

Leaning against the wall, and dominating the right sideofthepainting, isa sword proportionally larger thannormal.Thisimmediately reminds us of Paul’s martyrdom by decapitation;italsoprovidesavisualsplitinthepainting,with a certain tension building between Paul and the sword.Isthisthetensionto whichRembrandtmaybe visuallyreferring:“I’mtornbetweenthetwoalternatives—Iwishto departandbewithChrist, forthatisfarbetter, butforyoursakeit’s morenecessarytoremainintheflesh”(Phil1:23–25)?Onthetable parchmentsarelaidout.Paulseemstobetakingabreakfromthem,yet he still loosely holds a writing reed in his right hand.There is no direct source of light;only Paul’s face and right hand are illuminated,possibly indicatingthattheyaretherepositoryofGod’sinspiration.

Aswelookmoreclosely, wefeelasifweareintrudingintoPaul’s sacredspace, withouthisbeingawarethatweareobservinghim. His venerableandattractivefaceisthatofanapproachableperson, yetwe refrain from disturbing him. Paul’s eyes are focused on one spot,but he appearstobelookingbeyondtheconfinesofthefourwalls. Ishe remembering someone or something dear? Or is he perhaps trying to discern just the right word to convey a teaching? His other hand rests lightlyagainsthishead,aposerelatedtothinkingorpondering.

The darkness shrouding Paul does not allow us to see whether he is inprisonorinacomfortableroom.Thiscontributestoasenseofmysteryhoveringoverthescene, amysterywhichisduenottoourinability to know the man,the apostle,the saint,but rather to the depths still lefttodiscoverandloveabouthim.Paul’slettersrevealanapostlewho careddeeplyforthosehe“hadbegotten”byhispreachingoftheGospel. Heagonizesoverpossiblyhurtingpeoplewithhiswords, caresabout theirphysicalandmoralhealth, wantsthemtodowellsothathemay beproudofthem,andaboveallwantsthemtolive “inChrist.”

[Y]ou know that it was due to an illness of the fleshthat I firstpro- claimedthegoodnewstoyou, andalthoughmyconditionwasa trialforyou,youdidn’tdespiseordisdainme; instead,youreceived melike... JesusChrist. Whathasbecomeofyourblessedjoy?... HaveIbecomeyourenemy,then,bytellingyouthetruth?(Gal 4:13-17)

ThemonetarycollectionfortheChurchinJerusalem(seeRom 15:26–26and1Cor16:1ff.)alsopreoccupieshim.Paulofferssolicitude for the poor as evidence that his gospel—as his ministry—is genuine! “Theironeconcern[thatofJames, Cephas, andJohn]wasthatwe shouldrememberthepoor, whichwastheverythingwewereeagerto do” (Gal2:10). Paulhasalsoheardofthesufferingsofthechurchin Philippi,andheencouragestheChristiansthere:“ForGodhasgraciously allowed you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him.You’reengagedinthesamestrugglewhichyousawmeengagedin, andnowhearthatI’mstillengagedin”(Phil1:29–30).

IsPaul’sanxietyoverwhatmayhappentohis “belovedchildren” excessiveorsomehowevidenceoftheApostle’sweakfaith?Onthecontrary, theanxietytowhichPaulrefersstemsfromaffectionateconcern rather than from a lack of faith in the graciousness of God’s protection. WhenPaultakesleaveofthechurchinMiletus,hesays: “AndnowI commendyoutoGodandtoHiswordofgrace...”(Acts20:32).Paul cares not only for the churches he founded but also for the individuals whomakeupthesecommunities,especiallythoseheconsiderscoworkersinthe Lord.Thefollowingareafewofthepersonswereadabout:

Paulalsohashiscritics, thosewhodonotholdbackfromcomplainingabouthim.Somepeopleaccusehimofusingfierywordswhen he is absent and of not having the courage to confront them in person (cf.2Cor10:1–2).N.T.Wright,commentingonPaul’sLettertothe Galatians,surmisesthatwhenPaulusesmoretenderlanguageitisnot becausehelackscourage.Rather,itisasifhe

stops talking theology,breaks off his train of thought,and speaks in quiteadifferentwaytohissurprisedhearers, requiringhishearers (not to mention his readers 2,000 years later!) to follow it closely andthinkhard.Now,quitesuddenly... hetellsthemwhathe’s thinking,howitfeels,whatsortofthoughtsarerushingthroughhis headatamorepersonallevel.Thisisaheart-to-heartmoment. Almosteverylineisanappealtofriendship, tofamilyloyalty, toa mutual bond established by their common experience of what God hasdoneforthemtogether*....